Multipurpose exercise machine

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose exercise machine for fitness and strength training at home is convertible for various exercises. The exercise machine is compact, light in weight, and includes a frame, a shaft, an eccentric wheel, a displaceable traveler, a pulling element, at least one exercise lever, and an optional coupling element for adding additional parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a multipurpose exercise machine for fitness andstrength training, designed as a home exercise machine for training athome.

Exercise machines for muscle training are well known in the art. Theyconsist of a frame with devices to support the body or individual partsof the body as well as a movable mechanism operable by muscular force,said mechanism being loaded by spring force or a counterweight, orcontaining a brake that creates resistance.

Exercise machines designed for professional use, in other words forfitness and strength training gymnasiums, are usually designed for onlyone very specific function, or at most for a small number of functionsdesigned to exercise very specific muscle groups, since such gymnasiumshave a number of machines that are used in succession by the personsundergoing training. These machines are rather large and take up acorresponding amount of space.

The exercise machines known to be available for home training includebicycle and rowing machines, training frames, and movable mechanisms forgymnastics or for lifting weights, as well as more demanding largedevices with two or three functions, which are, however, mainly designedalong the lanes of gymnasium equipment and are correspondingly large,cumbersome, and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The goal of the invention is to provide a multipurpose exercise machinefor use in home training, characterized firstly by a wide variety ofpossible uses, in other words, useful for exercising as many musclegroups of the body as possible, and secondly by a very small spacerequirement.

As will be more apparent from the description of the example whichfollows, the exercise machine according to the invention is designed sothat it requires minimum installation space, whereby it can bepositioned a short distance from a wall and can be fastened to the wall,but fastening to the floor and hence drilling holes in the floorcovering is unnecessary. The machine can be converted for variousexercises by means of simple assembly techniques not requiring tools,and the resistance can likewise be changed in many ways by making a fewmanual adjustments without tools. The machine is simply but logicallydesigned and, hence, very compact; it is light in weight and economical,but permits practically all of the muscle groups of the body to beexercised.

One embodiment of the exercise machine according to the invention willbe described in greater detail below with reference to the attacheddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an exercise machine embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the exercise machine;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the exercise machine;

FIGS. 4a-4e show side views of optional pieces of equipment used withthe exercise machine; and

FIG. 5 is a partial front view of the exercise machine with a mountedtraining lever and cushions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 through 3 show the essential design of the multipurpose exercisemachine according to the invention.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale; wherever it is necessary tomake the representation clearer, parts are shown slightly enlarged. Inthe top view in FIG. 3, everything that is part of the foot area of themachine has been omitted for the sake of clarity.

As shown in FIG. 1, the frame of the device consists of a support in theform of a column 1 with a foot 2, an upper cross member 3, and ahorizontal frame 4 located below cross member 3.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, column 1, designed as a simple rod,is advantageous in every respect, but the support could also be designeddifferently, for example as a standing flat frame. Similarly, instead ofthe upper cross member and the horizontal frame shown in the a standingflat frame. Similarly, instead of the upper cross member and thehorizontal frame shown in the embodiment, a differently shaped frameworkcould be used that would perform the same functions.

Here, foot 2 is designed as an angular section running transversely tocolumn 1, but it can also be designed as a footplate or a spacerextending toward the wall and could have wall mounting brackets foradditional fastening to the wall.

Upper cross member 3 is provided with handles 5 at each end that can bemade removable and possibly adjustable on cross member 3 with regard totheir lateral spacing from column 1. These handles 5 allow the user ofthe machine to grip them or to support him/herself with one or bothhands on the frame of the exercise machine during certain exercises.

As seen in FIG. 3, horizontal frame 4 has a basically rectangular shapeand consists of a front member 41 running parallel to cross member 3 andintersecting column 1, a rear member 42 parallel thereto and thereforebehind column 1 at a distance, and two connecting members 43 betweenmembers 41 and 42.

Rear frame member 42 is longer than front member 41 and has end partsprojecting on both sides beyond connecting member 43, each of said endparts being provided with a hole for a screw 44 for fastening to thewall. Frame 4 thus serves primarily as a wall-fastening element for themachine and determines the distance of column 1 from the wall. However,the main function of the frame 4 is to receive and mount a horizontalshaft 6 running centrally between rear member 42 and front member 41,i.e. through the area of the intersection between front frame member 41and column 1, said shaft being rotatably mounted in 4 and bearing aneccentric wheel 7 nonrotatably connected therewith, and guided forwardthrough the area of the intersection between front member 41 and column1, and terminating in a coupling shaft 61 projecting forward beyondcolumn 1, said shaft 61 serving for nonrotatable mounting of optionalexercise levers 20 or 30 as seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B and described ingreater detail below. One mounted exercise lever is shown in FIG. 5, buthas been omitted in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, coupling shaft 61 is designed as apolygonal rod, while the exercise lever to be mounted has a matchingpolygonal hole, but it is understood that the coupling shaft canalternatively be designed as a sleeve with a polygonal hole into which amatching polygonal pin mounted on the exercise lever can be inserted. Inthe embodiment shown, the coupling shaft is a hexagonal rod, so that anexercise lever to be mounted can be inserted optionally in one ofseveral positions, each 60° apart, but a wear-resistant nonrotatableconnection between the coupling shaft and the exercise lever is ensuredas well. Essentially, a square or octagonal rod could be used as well,but the square rod has the disadvantage of a smaller number of possibleangular positions for the exercise lever to be mounted, while anoctagonal or higher polygonal rod has the disadvantage of a less firmnonrotational connection between the coupling shaft and the exerciselever.

Eccentric wheel 7 sits on shaft 6 in such manner that the diameter ofthe eccentric wheel intersecting shaft 6 is roughly horizontal in theresting state and parallel frame 4. Preferably, it is made as a soliddisk to reduce the risk of accident.

Eccentric wheel 7 is connected by a pulling element, namely a chain 8,with a traveler 9 guided on column 1, with chain 8 being guided betweentwo guide rollers 10 located in the upper area of column 1 below frame4, so that chain 8 always runs parallel, i.e. vertically, along the backof column 1 below guide rollers 10.

Traveler 9 guided on column 1 has a crossbar 91, which, like the anglesection forming foot 2, extends symmetrically on both sides of column 1.Between crossbar 91 and foot 2, coil springs 11 are arrangedsymmetrically and pairwise with respect to column 1, one end of eachspring being attached to crossbar 91 and the other end of each springbeing attached to the vertical angle section leg of foot 2. In theembodiment, six springs, i.e. three pairs of springs, are shown, butmore or fewer spring pairs could be provided. The pairwise arrangementof the springs, as is readily apparent, ensures symmetrical andtilt-free loading of traveler 9.

Depending on the requirements, one or more pairs of springs can be addedfor training to vary the resistance to be overcome.

Crossbar 91 is preferably made as a round rod and can be of the samelength as or longer than foot 2, and instead of springs 11, disk weights12 can optionally be insertable symmetrically on the ends of crossbar 91on both sides. Of course, especially when crossbar 91 is longer thanfoot 2, spring pairs and disk weights can be combined as desired.

By rotating eccentric wheel 7 by means of an exercise lever placed oncoupling shaft 61, as will be described in greater detail below,traveler 9 is lifted upward by chain 8, stretching springs 11 or actingagainst the weight of disk weights 12 mounted on crossbar 91. Rubberbumpers 13 are advantageously provided between the lower end of traveler9 and foot 2 to dampen any impacts of traveler 9. Of course, othersuitable measures can be provided instead of or as well as rubberbumpers 13 to dampen the return of traveler 9.

The significance of eccentric wheel 7 lies in the fact that when anexercise lever placed on coupling shaft 61 is rotated, the wheel createsa pattern of travel of traveler 9 that is nonlinear with respect to therotational angle, and thus creates a nonlinear force pattern that isadapted to anatomical conditions during the contraction of a muscle tobe trained.

A number of square pins 14 are located below the intersection of frontframe member 41 with column 1, said pins serving for optional mountingof equipment described in greater detail below. In the embodiment shown,three such square pins 14 are provided, located 45° apart as shown.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show two different exercise levers 20 and 30, optionallymountable on coupling shaft 61, with exercise lever 20 having a handle21 for gripping with the hand to exercise the arm, while exercise lever30 has a larger roller body 31 projecting at right angles therefromprovided for application of the legs or neck.

Both exercise levers 20 and 30 are made extendable by telescoping andconsist of a rod 22 or 32 with a hexagonal opening 23 or 33 for mountingon coupling shaft 61, as well as a sleeve 24 or 34 mountable on saidrod, on which handle 21 or roller body 31 is located and which isprovided with a locking element 25 or 35 for securing it in the selectedposition on the rod as shown, whereby the locking element can be in theform of a clamping screw for continuous adjustment of the sleeve on therod or possibly in the form of a pin for stepwise length adjustment ofthe exercise lever in cooperation with a row of matching holes in therod.

In the case of exercise lever 20 shown in FIG. 4a, it is important forhandle 21 to be rotatably connected by a short crank arm 26 with sleeve22 to permit automatic length adjustment during the rotary movement ofthe lever in case the natural path of movement of the hand grasping thehandle during a training exercise does not correspond exactly with thecurved path of the exercise lever or crank pivot.

FIGS. 4c and 4d show mountable devices for optional mounting on squarepins 14, namely an armrest cushion 40 in FIG. 4c with a square hole 41and, in FIG. 4d, a support 50.

Support 50 is roll-shaped so that it can be used on all sides forleaning the thighs, buttocks, back, or abdomen of the body against itduring certain exercises. Support 50 further has a bar 51 bent at rightangles with a square hole 52 so that, depending on which of lateralsquare pins 14 on the frame it is mounted on, it is located on one sideor the other of the center of the frame. The relationships, namely theprovision of square pins 14 on the frame, the design of armrest cushions48, and the bend of bar 51 of support 50, are chosen for the comfort andsupport of the user. For example, when pushing downward, the usersupports his/her elbow on the armrest cushion in order to press theexercise lever sideways with the arm, the pivot point of the arm roughlycorresponding to the rotational axis of shaft 6. Similarly, when theuser, for example, presses his/her abdomen against support 50 in orderto move the exercise lever with the neck, the pivot point of the bodyonce again roughly corresponds with rotational axis 6 while the upperbody is bent.

One particular advantage of the exercise machine lies in the fact thatworking strokes of the exercise levers can be made with rotation to theright as well as to the left, so that the device can be used fortraining both arms, both legs, pressing the arms to one side or theother, etc., without any retrofitting of the device itself beingrequired apart from mounting the exercise lever on coupling shaft 61 inan orientation that points to the left or right. The only action to betaken in making a transition from a working stroke that rotatesrightward (corresponding to the drawing in FIG. 1, with the upper end ofthe chain guided toward the left side of eccentric wheel 7) is to adjusteccentric wheel 7 by rotating it through 180°, i.e. by rotating themajor part of the eccentric wheel, which points to the right in thedrawing in FIG. 1, leftward counterclockwise, so that the part of theeccentric wheel that receives the end of the chain, at the left in FIG.1, is pivoted down and around toward the right-hand side and the chainthen engages the eccentric wheel on the right. Because of the eccentricmounting of the eccentric wheel, the weight-produced torque of thelarger half of the eccentric wheel always ensures stability in oneposition or the other.

In FIG. 1, holes 15 for optional mounting of a stop pin 16 are providedin cross member 3 and front member 41 of frame 4. In this manner, theexercise machine can be brought into a pretensioned position, bymounting an exercise lever on coupling shaft 61, rotating eccentricwheel 7 through a certain range, thereby lifting traveler 9 acorresponding distance and tensioning springs 11, and inserting stop pin16 into matching hole 15, holding the exercise lever in the pretensionedposition and preventing it from moving backward. Training can then beginfrom the pretensioned position.

The exercise machine is preferably provided with a stool 60, with theheight of the stool being adjusted so that the user stands in front ofthe machine for certain exercises, for example arm presses, but standson the stool for leg exercises, for example. This allows leg exercisesthat involve swinging the legs to be performed without the feet strikingthe floor.

Measures can also be provided to permit handles 5 to be mounted in otherpositions on the cross member or on frame 4, or an additional handledevice, for example with handles oriented vertically, can be provided onone side or the other of cross member 3 or of frame 4, to providesupport in certain exercises, for example in arm presses, as analternative to using the support, with the free hand holding on to sucha handle. Such a mountable handle device 70 is shown in FIG. 4e and hasa horizontal shaft 71, a vertical member 72, and two handles 73 locatedat the two ends of the member that can be used optionally. Shaft 71 canbe inserted laterally instead of handle 5, optionally from left orright, into the upper frame member, or into the left or right lateralend of front member 41 of frame 4.

FIG. 5 shows in an enlarged representation the upper part of the devicein a state prepared for arm presses. For this purpose, exercise lever 20(FIG. 4a) has been mounted on coupling shaft 61 in such a manner that itprojects slightly diagonally upward to the right. In one of holes 15 inupper cross member 3, a stop pin 16 has been inserted against which theleft edge of exercise lever 20 rests. As is evident from the position ofeccentric wheel 7 with respect to FIG. 1, the device is pretensioned, inother words the eccentric wheel has already been rotated partially sothat the exercise lever is already under tension in the position shownand is prevented by stop pin 16 from returning to the relaxed position.Armrest cushion 40 shown in FIG. 4c is mounted on central square pin 14of the frame, on which cushion the elbow is supported during armpresses. In addition, support 50 is mounted on left square pin 14 inFIG. 1, said pin being rotated through 45° with respect to the middlesquare pin, so that bar 51 of the armrest cushion extends diagonallydownward to the left and support 50 is located below armrest cushion 40to the left of column 1. Exercise lever 20 can be tensioned clockwise,so that the device is now prepared for arm presses by the left arm ofthe user standing before the device, who rests his/her left hip againstsupport 50, supports his/her elbow on armrest cushion 40, and gripshandle 51 of exercise lever 20 with the left fist in order to press onit and rotate it to the right.

The exercise machine according to the invention described above offersthe opportunity to train the muscles of the inner and outer leg, thegluteal and abdominal muscles, the lumbar and back muscles, the musclesof the front and back of the upper leg, the muscles of the upper arm atfront and back, as well as the muscles of the shoulders and chest.

Column 1 of the machine can be adjusted heightwise, with a telescopingcolumn section advantageously being provided above the area of traveler9 travel, in which locking means, e.g. holes and pins to secure saidsection at the desired height, are provided. This is not shown in thedrawings, but is readily accomplished by an individual skilled in theart. The machine can thus be adjusted to different body sizes.

Foot 2, as mentioned above, does not have to be fastened to the floor.Advantageously, however, a skid-proof coating is provided on theunderside of the foot.

I claim:
 1. A multipurpose exercise machine for muscle and strengthtraining, comprising:a) a frame with a vertical support having a frontand a rear, a foot, and an upper framework mounted on the verticalsupport and extending rearward therefrom; b) a shaft rotatably mountedon the upper framework and extending horizontally from and perpendicularthereto, said shaft being located essentially centrally with respect tothe vertical support, and said shaft having at a forward end a mountingshaft; c) an eccentric wheel nonrotatably mounted on said shaft, anessentially horizontal diameter of said wheel intersecting the shaft ina resting position of the machine; d) a displaceable traveler guidedalong said vertical support and loaded by a means for providingresistance comprising one of a pair of springs and a pair of weights; e)a pulling element connecting the displaceable traveler with acircumference of the eccentric wheel, the pulling element beingconnected to the circumference of the eccentric wheel at essentially thehorizontal diameter; f) at least one exercise lever optionallynonrotatably, insertably connected with the mounting shaft such that theresistance means provides resistance against movement of the exerciselever, thereby providing a means of exercising various muscle groups;and g) at least one insertable coupling element located on the front ofthe vertical support near the shaft for mounting of a part having amatching receptacle.
 2. The multipurpose exercise machine according toclaim 1 further comprising a handle on the upper framework.
 3. Themultipurpose exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein the verticalsupport is a rod-shaped column and the upper framework is a horizontalframe comprising a front cross member connected to the vertical support,a rear cross member parallel to the front cross member at a distancetherefrom, and at least one connecting member extending therebetween,the shaft extending from the front cross member to the rear crossmember.
 4. The multipurpose exercise machine according to claim 1wherein the upper framework further comprises an upper cross memberlocated above the horizontal frame on the vertical support, the uppercross member having a handle on either end.
 5. The multipurpose exercisemachine according to claim 1 wherein the upper framework furthercomprises receiving holes for optional insertion of a stop pin thatprojects forward into a pivot path of the exercise lever.
 6. Themultipurpose exercise machine according to claim 3 wherein the travelercomprises a tubular body surrounding the rod-shaped column displaceablethereon by sliding, and a lower cross member fastened thereto andextending symmetrically from both sides of the rod-shaped column, saidlower cross member serving to support one of the pair of weights andupper ends of the pair of springs, a lower end of the pair of springsbeing attached to the foot.
 7. The multipurpose exercise machineaccording to claim 3 further comprising a pair of guide rollers mountedon the rod-shaped column below the eccentric wheel for guiding thepulling element.
 8. The multipurpose exercise machine according to claim1 wherein the pulling element is a chain.
 9. The multipurpose exercisemachine according to claim 1 wherein the mounting shaft is a hexagonalrod and the exercise lever has a corresponding hexagonal hole.
 10. Themultipurpose exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein the exerciselever further comprises a rod having a matching element for mounting onthe mounting shaft, and a displaceable sleeve guided lengthwise on therod with a locking element for locking the displaceable sleeve in aselected position along the mounting shaft, the displaceable sleevefurther comprising a gripping element.
 11. The multipurpose exercisemachine according to claim 10 wherein the gripping element is connectedby a short crank arm with the displaceable sleeve.
 12. The multipurposeexercise machine according to claim 1 wherein the foot includes atraverse angle section having a lower horizontal L-leg and a rearvertical L-leg disposed essentially in a plane of the eccentric wheeland further having at least one hole for connecting the lower ends ofthe pair of springs to the traveler.
 13. The multipurpose exercisemachine according to claim 1 further comprising a damping elementbetween the foot and the traveler.
 14. The multipurpose exercise machineaccording to claim 1 wherein the optionally insertable coupling elementis in the form of a square pin.
 15. The multipurpose exercise machineaccording to claim 1 further comprising an armrest cushion mountable onthe optionally insertable coupling element, a surface of the armrestcushion being substantially level with a horizontal axis of the shaftwhen mounted.
 16. The multipurpose exercise machine according to claim 1further comprising a support with a bar at right angles, said supportbeing mountable on the optionally insertable coupling element.
 17. Themultipurpose exercise machine according to claim 2 wherein the handlemounted on the upper framework comprises at least one verticallyoriented handle.
 18. The multipurpose exercise machine according toclaim 1 wherein the vertical support is height-adjustable.